RATES IN CENS PER 2,100 LBS. IN CARLOAD SHIPMENTS OF 21,000 LBS.

RATES IN CENTS PER 2,100 LBS. IN CARLOAD SHIPMENTS OF 21,000 LBS. OR OVER.

On January 16, 1889, the following resolution was passed by the House:

Resolved, That the Commissioners of Railroads be requested to investigate by practical test, and report to this House the relative value and usefulness of lignite coal as compared with other kinds of fuel."

On February 15, 1890, the following report was submitted by the Commissioners:

BISMARCK, N. D., February 15, 1890.

MR. SPEAKER: The Board of Railroad Commissioners, in compliance with House resolution asking information on the merit of native coal, beg to report the following scientific analyses, correspondence and statements, which is as exhaustive and comprehensive as can be obtained at once, or without incurring expense of further tests, which undoubtedly would be profitable, but too late to be made in this report.

We are indebted to Mr. C. W. Thompson for copy of analyses as made for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, to-wit:

ANALYSES OF LIGNITE COALS OF NORTH DAKOTA, THOMPSON'S SIMS MINE, MADE BY CAMBRIA IRON COMPANY.

Properly burned in a locomotive boiler, each pound will evaporate 3.66 pounds of water.

Evaporates 4.27 pounds of water to 1 pound of coal.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES FROM DANA'S MANUAL.

Average of these ingredients from the five analyses on Lignite Coal :

I hereby certify that I have been an engineer of stationary engines for eight years, and for the last two years have been in charge of the pumping engines of the Bismarck Water Company; that during said time I have used eastern bituminous coal and North Dakota lignite, and find from experiment that one ton and a half of Dakota coal will evaporate as much water as one ton of eastern bituminous coal, and as much as a cord and a half of cottonwood.

ED. SLOAN.
Engineer Bismarck Water Company.

I hereby certify that I have been an engineer of stationary engines for eighteen years, and for the last two years have been chief engineer of the roller mills at Valley City and Bismarck, and have been for the past seventeen months Engineer of the Bismarck Electric Light Company. That during said period I have used eastern bituminous coal and North Dakota lignite coal to generate steam and during said period have made many tests between bituminous and lignite coal and have found that one and a half tons of lignite equals or will generate as much steam as one ton of Pittsburg bituminous coal, or one ton of said coal will generate as much steam as one and a half cords of cottonwood, or one cord of Minnesota oak.

EDWARD MCCARTHY.

CORRESPONDENCE.

BISMARCK, N. D., January 30, 1890.

Hon. F. B. Fancher, Secretary Railroad Commissioners:

DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter of inquiry regarding the merits of lignite, or Dakota Coal, I have the honor to say that I have used it over six years

Comr. of R. R's 4.

for generating steam in a stationary boiler, for manufacturing and steam heating, and also as a fuel for range in domestic use. It is by far the most economical fuel for both purposes to be had in this market. It is an excellent steam generator, makes a hot fire, burns freely, and with intelligent use clinkers but little. For domestic use one ton of lignite is equal to two cords of cottonwood. It is a clean coal, burns freely, leaves a white ash and no soot. For generating steam in a stationary boiler, the grate bars should be raised up so as to bring the blaze close to the boiler, thus increasing by 15 to 20 per cent. the amount of steam generated from a certain amount of lignite. For domestic use a good draught should be secured and only a little put on the fire at a time. The lids of the range should not be raised for the purpose of "punching" the fire from above. When a hot fire is wanted a few chunks should be thrown on the fire, and if there is an accumulation of ashes they should be shaken down gently and the dampers opened. No gas will then escape and the best results will follow. By filling the fire box half full or more of lignite and closing the dampers a smouldering fire can be retained for ten or twelve hours. I believe the most important think, next to the reduction of freight rates, is to educate the people how to use lignite. Those who have had intelligent experience in its use will join with me in declaring that in the Dakotas we cannot afford to use any other fuel, even with the present high rates of transportation. With the transportation rates and the expense of mining cut down to the minimum, the use of native coal will be extended to such an extent as to almost exclude the use of the foreign product, and hundreds of thousands of dollars will be saved annually to the settlers of North Dakota, and the manufacturing interests would receive a wonderful impetus.

F. B. Fancher, Esq., Bismarck, N. D.:

Very respectfully,

M. H. JEWELL,
Editor Bismarck "Tribune."

DEAR SIR: Your esteemed favor of the 17th is received and carefully noted. Regarding the use of lignite coal, the writer's experience has been confined almost entirely to its use under steam boilers, and this letter has reference to his observations in that direction only. One of the first factors to be considered by a manufacturer who contemplates using lignite is to get a fireman who will forget all he ever knew about firing with other fuels and begin his experience. This is necessary because the quality of coal varies to a considerable extent, and the varying conditions of the atmosphere call for a constant exercise of judgment. To illustrate: Much of the lignite coal is mined under water; during a temperate condition of the weather much of the moisture would be evaporated on contact with the atmosphere, and the calorific power of the coal supplemented to the extent of the evaporation, whereas in very cold weather the moisture would congeal with the coal, and upon being thrown into the furnace would require that heat from the burning mass to evaporate the moisture before action could be gotten upon the volatile properties. The result of this is a falling off of steam pressure and a consequent loss of power. From this very cause of lack of judgment in the fireman much of the popular prejudice against lignite coal can be traced. Under favorable atmospheric conditions the coal will throw off quick heat in liberal quantity, and ordinary furnaces can be fed once an hour; but as the conditions of the atmosphere affect the combustion of the coal, the lower the temperature the more frequent the firing, the quantity being lessened in proportion to the frequency.

The amount of ash in lignite varies considerably, it being the writer's experience that the nearer the surface of the earth the coal is mined, the greater the quantity of ash, but the ash stands in no relation to the proportion of volatile constituents; it is, however, an important factor in arriving at the value, as the coal is paid for by weight, and if much of the weight has to be removed from the grate bars to allow more perfect draft, a loss is apparent. The surface mined coal appears to have much clay or other foreign matter with it, which causes a "clinker" to form, and its removal is necessary to aid combustion. To this fact of the removal of ashes before the combustion is perfect and complete, is due the